Sri Lanka Matha (Mother Sri Lanka)

"Sri Lanka Matha" is the national anthem of Sri Lanka. The words and music were
written by Ananda Samarakoon in 1940 in the Sinhala language, and was officially
adopted as the national anthem on November 22, 1951 by a committee headed by Sir
Edwin Wijeyeratne. The first line of the anthem originally read: "Namo namo
matha, apa Sri Lanka". There was some controversy over these words in the 1950s,
and in early 1962 they were changed to their present form.

Plenteous in prosperity, Thou,
Beauteous in grace and love,
Laden with grain and luscious fruit,
And fragrant flowers of radiant hue,
Giver of life and all good things,
Our land of joy and victory,
Receive our gratefull praise sublime,
Lanka! we worship Thee.

Thou gavest us Knowledge and Truth,
Thou art our strength and inward faith,
Our light divine and sentient being,
Breath of life and liberation.
Grant us, bondage free, inspiration.
Inspire us for ever.
In wisdom and strength renewed,
Ill-will, hatred, strife all ended,
In love enfolded, a mighty nation
Marching onward, all as one,
Lead us, Mother, to fullest freedom.